Tiruchirappalli International Airport

History

Air Ceylon (Sri Lankan Airlines) began operations in the late 1940s while Indian started services in the 80s. The airlines operated flights from Trichy to Colombo through Jaffna. This was a Customs Airport until 4 October 2012, when it was given an International Airport status by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Indra ATS Automation system was installed at Trichy in April 2012 to help air traffic control increase safety and security.

Terminals

The airport has two adjacent terminals. The integrated international terminal is used for international and domestic air traffic. The old terminal has been converted into an international cargo complex. The 4,000 m² (43,000 sq ft) cargo complex was commissioned for operations on 21 November 2011.

Passenger terminal

The new integrated passenger terminal built at cost of ₹80 crore (US$12 million) was inaugurated on 21 February 2009 and started operations from 1 June 2009. The two-story terminal has a floor area of 11,777 m² (126,770 sq ft). The terminal is designed to handle 470 passengers at a time. Some of the features of the new terminal include:

The new terminal has two lounges, VIP lounge managed by AAI and commercial important persons (CIP) lounge also managed by AAI.

Cargo terminal

The old terminal was converted into an international cargo complex at a cost of Rupees 10 million. The 4,000 m² (43,000 sq ft) cargo complex was commissioned for operations on 21 November 2011. The Central Board of Excise and Customs had earlier approved and notified the airport as an air cargo complex. The one-time holding capacity of the cargo terminal is 250 metric tonnes The airport is the gateway for foreign export as there is no easy way for export from the central region of Tamil Nadu.

On 11 October 2013, a five-metric ton capacity cold storage facility was inaugurated at the cargo section. This facility will be helpful during flight delay, flight cancellation, advance booking and holiday bookings of cargo.

Runway

Trichy Airport initially had two intersecting runways. The shorter 1,456 m (4,776 ft) runway 15/33 with PCN 15F/B/W/T was closed and is now used as an alternative taxiway to the international apron. The current runway under use 09/27 is 2,480 m (8,136 ft) long with a PCN 40 F/B/W/T and has turning pads at both ends. The asphalt runway has a CA-1 ILS (Runway 27 only) and runway edge-lights. The other landing aids include a PAPI, HIRL, AFL and SAPL.

Expansion

Tiruchirapalli Airport has been undergoing expansion since 2004. The runway was extended from 1,829 m (6,000 ft) to 2,480 m (8,136 ft), apron expanded to hold 10 aircraft, fire station upgraded, a new taxiway and integrated passenger terminal were constructed.

The proposed Phase 2 expansion on 210 hectares (510 acres) by AAI includes extending the runway to 3,810 m (12,500 ft), construction of a modern air traffic control (ATC) tower, additional building complex and other works. The state government has agreed to provide land free to AAI for the expansion.

Trichy is one of the non-metro airports selected for ₹200 crore (US$30 million) city side development on public-private partnership

Recent progress

The AAI has sought around 510 acres of land for the current expansion. Of the total about 188 acres are dry land, 116 acres wetland, 164.68 acres defense land, 40.59 acres wasteland and 5.80 is with Hindu religious and Charitable Trust. To facilitate fast process on airport expansion a joint technical advisory committee involving the departments of agriculture, public works department and revenue had been formed chaired by P. Kumar, Trichy MP. The district administration has formed a special team comprising the airport director, revenue divisional officer, joint director of agriculture, officials of Public Works Department, and other agencies concerned to expedite the land acquisition process.

According to the committee, the land acquisition is decided to be carried out in three phases. In the first phase the lands on either side of the existing runway is to be acquired immediately. In the second phase, acquisition of wet and dry land could be taken up. In the third phase the defence land could be acquired. In 2012, it was decided to acquire the defense land first, as there is consistent agitation from the farmers for acquiring farm lands; later on the remaining lands would be acquired.

Runway extension

Considering the growing potential of Trichy airport AAI has decided to expand the runway to around 3,200 m (10,500 ft) initially from the existing 2,480 m (8,136 ft) and later to 3,800 m (12,500 ft). It has sought land to the state government and still the response is awaited and once land has been sought the expansion would take place. The district administration has expressed its willingness to pay the market price for the land to be acquired.But the present government does not show any consideration in extending the runway of this airport

Terminal expansion

Due to the consistent increase in the air traffic, the integrated passenger terminal building having a total floor area of 11,777 m² (126,770 sq ft) to handle 470 peak-hour passengers has become insufficient. Hence the Ministry of Civil Aviation has initiated the action to construct a new two level passenger terminal by constructing additional 60,723 m² (653,620 sq ft) area to enhance the passenger handling capacity to 3370 peak-hour passengers. The AAI has planned to construct a new terminal building, Air Traffic Control - ATC Tower, multilevel car parking, Airport Staff quarters and CISF staff quarters at cost of ₹951 crore (US$140 million) in the airport campus. A detailed project report has been prepared and tender has been floated.

Apron expansion

AAI has gone for the extension of apron and construction of ramp equipment area measuring 2,800 sq.m. at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore (US$300,000). The construction work is in the final stages and the airport authority is waiting for the nod of Director General Civil Aviation for commissioning the seventh bay along with the apron area. Further action has been initiated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to expand the apron to provide two more aircraft bays, increasing the bay count to nine. Upon completion of the new terminal the airport will have an apron size of 15,580 sq.m for parking up to 10 code C type aircraft.

Pilot training centres

The airport is home to a flying training academy promoted by the VKN Group, operating out of a 10,000 sq. ft. plot on the airfield with five glass cockpit equipped four seater Cessna 172 R aircraft. The academy provides training for two types of licence:

Maintenance

Incidents and accidents

Renaming

After the demise of the former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, there have been requests made to rename the airport as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam International Airport.